Bollman Suspension and Trussed Bridge
National Historic Landmark

Bollman Suspension and Trussed Bridge

Savage, Howard County, Maryland
Listed
October 17, 1972
Type
Structure
Period
Civil War
Ref No.
72000582

About this property

The Bollman Truss Railroad Bridge across the Little Patuxent River at Savage, Maryland, is one of the oldest standing iron railroad bridges in the United States and the sole surviving example of a revolutionary design in the history of American bridge engineering. The 160-foot (48.8 m) double-span was built in 1852 at an unknown location on the main line of the Baltimore and Ohio Railroad. It was moved 35 years later to its present location, where it replaced the very first Bollman bridge. Today, it carries the Savage Mill Trail. The Bollman design, a through truss bridge, was the first successful all-metal bridge design to be adopted and consistently used on a railroad.

Location

Savage, Howard County, Maryland
39.13487, -76.82505

Federal Designation

The National Register of Historic Places, administered by the National Park Service, is the United States federal government's official list of districts, sites, buildings, structures, and objects deemed worthy of preservation for their historical, architectural, archaeological, engineering, or cultural significance. Listing on the National Register recognizes a property's importance to American history but does not place restrictions on private owners; it does, however, make properties eligible for federal historic preservation tax incentives and enables consideration in federal planning decisions. National Historic Landmark designation, the highest level of federal recognition, is reserved for properties that possess exceptional national significance in the history, architecture, archaeology, engineering, or culture of the United States. This property is recorded in the National Register under reference number 72000582. It was listed on October 17, 1972.

Categories

ENGINEERINGTRANSPORTATION
National Register nomination ›
Sources

Property data from the National Register of Historic Places, National Park Service (public domain).

Description adapted from Wikipedia under the Creative Commons Attribution-ShareAlike 4.0 International License.

Nearby Historic Sites

Avondale Mill
Early Republic
2.2 mi

Nearby Battles

Relay House MD (B&O Railroad Defense 1861)
1861Civil War
1.2 mi
Beltsville MD Railroad Attack (1864)
1864Civil War
8.6 mi
Ellicott City MD Bridge Defense (1861)
1861Civil War
9.3 mi
Catonsville MD Skirmish (1864)
1864Civil War
10.7 mi

Questions about this property

When was Bollman Suspension and Trussed Bridge listed on the National Register?

Bollman Suspension and Trussed Bridge was listed on the National Register of Historic Places on October 17, 1972.

What type of historic resource is Bollman Suspension and Trussed Bridge?

Bollman Suspension and Trussed Bridge is classified as a structure in the National Register of Historic Places.

Is Bollman Suspension and Trussed Bridge a National Historic Landmark?

Yes. Bollman Suspension and Trussed Bridge has been designated a National Historic Landmark (NHL), the highest level of federal recognition for historic properties in the United States.

What is the period of significance for Bollman Suspension and Trussed Bridge?

The period of significance for Bollman Suspension and Trussed Bridge is recorded as the civil_war era, specifically around 1869.

Can I research the history near Bollman Suspension and Trussed Bridge?

Yes. Aubrey Research reports search National Register listings, battlefield records, land patents, and other primary historical sources within any radius of a US address. A report for an address near Bollman Suspension and Trussed Bridge will include this listing and all other historical records in the area.

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